[83] Developments

"Yes!" Waver replied, perplexed.

"Look at this here," Kayneth said as he watched Waver, who was about to leave.

"Huh?"

"I said, look at this here," Kayneth told Waver. "Let me see the expression on your face when your future self has done something like this!"

"My future self..." Waver muttered to himself. Was this some experiment by the Clock Tower? Seeing the future... and discovering that he had done something terrible in the future?

'Ah... if that's really the case, future me, please be a bit more discreet with your actions!'

Waver didn't doubt that this wasn't related to the future. In a world filled with magecraft, he wasn't surprised by anything that might happen. So, with the idea of glimpsing into the future, he opened the book in his hand.

...

During the Third Holy Grail War, Einzbern did indeed summon a Heroic Spirit named "Angra Mainyu." That much was certain.

And he did retire early.

This was confirmed when Emiya Kiritsugu, under the pretext of needing to investigate past Holy Grail Wars to ensure victory in battle, asked Jubstacheit von Einzbern, the head of the Einzbern family.

Indeed, during the Third Holy Grail War, Einzbern summoned an Avenger-class Heroic Spirit named "Angra Mainyu." However, this Heroic Spirit unexpectedly proved weak and quickly retired from the war.

But why did Maiya want to inquire about this?

"Daddy, are you going to work?" Illyasviel ran over.

"Ah... yes," Emiya Kiritsugu smiled and opened his arms to pick up his daughter, looking at Irisviel not far away. "I received information about the Holy Grail War and need to pick it up. I should be back by tomorrow."

"Information... wasn't it always sent as usual?" Irisviel asked, a bit puzzled.

"Ah, yes," Emiya Kiritsugu nodded. "This time, there's a bit more. It's not something that can be sent so easily."

Emiya Kiritsugu looked at his daughter and asked, "Illyasviel, is there anything you want? Daddy will bring it back for you."

...

Waver looked at "Fate/Zero" with mixed feelings. Could he really participate in such a battle?

He watched as the people schemed and plotted from the beginning. Wouldn't they crush him if he got involved?

And then... he saw Kayneth hit by the Origin Bullet. He watched as Kayneth turned green. He watched Kayneth die...

His heart rate increased several times over the course of the night.

He frequently glanced at Kayneth's expression.

"I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!" With Kayneth's abilities and influence, crushing him would be as easy as crushing an ant, effortless and without any trouble. Right now, he was thinking about how to escape.

No... he couldn't escape at all.

As he watched the progress in the manga, he felt like he was about to faint. Only when the character King Iskandar appeared in the manga did he feel a different, reassuring sensation.

"Ah... that guy really has a strong influence, whether it's on the me in the manga or the me in reality. Calm down, Waver."

Waver gradually calmed down and watched as Iskandar headed for defeat, and as the Holy Grail War neared its end.

Kayneth just watched, without saying anything, thinking, "Does this guy really have the qualifications?"

Kayneth's current thoughts were the same as before: to win this Holy Grail War. However, this time, he would be more cautious, and he wouldn't bring his fiancée with him. It was too dangerous to bring her along.

But... if he could, bringing Waver along wouldn't be a bad idea.

If he really had the qualifications.

If he could survive the Holy Grail War, he would acknowledge him. He would acknowledge his future ability and potential, reaching heights that even his current self hadn't achieved.

But...

If he died in the Holy Grail War...

Hmph.

That would just mean he was nothing special.

Kayneth looked at the "Fate/Zero Sequel" beside him. If it weren't for this, he would have probably eliminated Waver by now.

Weak people didn't deserve mercy!

"Waver... it seems you've finished reading. So, what are your thoughts?"

"Yes... um, well... if this is really the future... I'm so sorry! I'm extremely sorry!"

"That's not what I want to hear!" Kayneth roared. "I want to hear your thoughts on the Holy Grail War."

"Huh?" Waver was momentarily surprised. Kayneth didn't seem to have any intention of killing him but was asking about his thoughts on the Holy Grail War?

"The thing in your hand... it should be widely available now, something that anyone, whether a magus or an ordinary person, can easily obtain. So, Waver, what do you think of this situation?"

...

"So many?" Emiya Kiritsugu looked at the mountain of manga books and said.

"No, not exactly," Maiya shook her head. "Among these, most are issues of a manga magazine called JUMP, and Kurokawa Kazuya's manga is only a part of it. The main content is in these tankobon volumes."

"Tankobon... I see," Emiya Kiritsugu exhaled. "Alright, today I'll take a brief look. You mentioned 'Fate,' right?"

"Yes."

Emiya Kiritsugu took a look and his pupils slightly contracted. Indeed, the people depicted on these pages felt strangely familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before...

"This guy..."

The whole night...

Emiya Kiritsugu didn't do anything else. He just repeatedly read through "Fate/Zero," "Fate/Zero Sequel," and the first volume of "Fate/Stay Night"...

In the early morning, he rubbed his head and said, "Investigate Kurokawa Kazuya, his true identity, any associates behind him, and... his current whereabouts!"

...

"As for my thoughts..." Waver Velvet remained silent for a moment and then said, "This Holy Grail War is likely to be the last Holy Grail War, at least the last one held in Fuyuki City. After this Holy Grail War, the Association will definitely intervene. Whether it's for the revival of the Holy Grail Wars in various places or the complete dismantling of the Holy Grail, it will depend on the decisions of the upper echelons of the Association."

"And..."

"And?"

"Well... there's another possibility. The upper echelons, the Lords of the Clock Tower, may have already foreseen all of this! They may be waiting for the Fourth Holy Grail War to take place to observe it and then determine what comes next."

"Waver Velvet."

"Yes!" Waver seemed to understand something and stood up, even though his legs were trembling.

"I command you to participate in this Holy Grail War with me. Remember, it's a command. If you survive, I'll acknowledge you. If you fail, then you shall die."

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